A Solo Traveler's Guide to Paris

If you’re traveling to Paris alone and wondering how to have an enjoyable time, then we’ve got you covered with this solo traveler’s guide. From trendy hotels, restaurants, and bars to the most invigorating museums, cooking classes, and design markets, it has all the insider tips you need to make your stay memorable and find independent adventure in one of the world’s most familiar capitals.

Where to stay

Visiting Paris on your own, whether for business or pleasure, presents the ideal opportunity to check out one of the city’s chicest new hotels. A stay at C.O.Q. (Community of Quality) is kind of like crashing at the apartment of a glamorous friend. This boutique hotel in the 13th arrondissement is cool and sleek and yet still totally welcoming. The Grand Pigalle Hôtel, a self-described ‘bed and beverage’, combines the area’s artistic heritage with its new, hip vibe in a way that doesn’t at all feel nostalgic. The group behind the hotel are also world-famous for their cocktail lounges.

Where to drink

For cocktails in Saint-Germain, head to the Prescription Cocktail Club, a nondescript bar on the Rue Mazarine. This is the place that got Paris’ cocktail craze going. Up in Pigalle, one of the most exuberant watering holes is Dirty Dick. This tiki bar’s charming name is matched by the colorful décor and the extremely friendly staff. Harry’s New York Bar near Opéra, where the walls are hung with collegiate flags and the drinks are famously strong, is another sound port of call for solo travelers. There’s live music in the piano bar from Tuesday to Saturday and you can sample the original Bloody Mary.

What museums to see

If you’re looking for an interactive art experience, ditch the Louvre and head to 59RIVOLI instead. This former squat now houses 30 studios and you can chat to the artists while you shop for a memento of your trip. The Musée du Quai Branly is one of the less crowded of Paris’ major museums. The subjects of its temporary exhibitions are thought-provoking and wide-ranging and its gardens are a beautiful retreat. If you’re visiting Paris in 2017, add the Centre Pompidou to your list of must-see museums. It’s celebrating its 40th birthday with a year-long calendar of events.

Where to day trip

You don’t need to travel far outside central Paris to see a totally different side to the region and to France. The Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen on Paris’ northern edge is reachable by metro on the lines 4 and 13 and even on foot if you’re staying in the 17th or 18th arrondissements. This labyrinthine flea market is open from Saturday to Monday and is filled with incredible antiques and vintage design pieces. There are restaurants, bars, and galleries spread over its 14 distinct areas so you can really make a day of it.

How to get around

One of the best ways to see Paris (especially if you’re not traveling in a big group) is by bike. You can buy a one-day ticket for the city’s Vélib’ system for €1.70 (US$1.80) or a seven-day ticket for €8 (US$8.50). You can use as many bikes as you like during these periods and the first 30 minutes of every journey is free. For zipping between, say, 59RIVOLI and the Musée du Quai Branly, this is perfect. For longer journeys, you will incur an additional charge from €1 (US$1.05) for the first half hour to €4 (US$4.30) for the 3rd half hour and beyond.